Kokeshi doll, laqué wood, Japan 1945

Kokeshi doll by master watanabe masao 1917 - 2007. Considered the most prolific artist of the 20th century. His faces depict the universal theme of "innocence" (mushin). The body evokes the bark of cherry tree by a black and red lask. His works are on permanent display at the nuremberg toy museum in germany. June 13, 45 under the base. Status: scratches, shocks, jumps of lasca. Comes with certificate. History of kokeshis: originally, were made from wood falls by peasants in winter and sold to the people of the city. So they have the appearance of bowling. They were toys for girls, or offered as a token of love or friendship; symbolize the desire to have a child. The doll comes from a shinto communion with nature (forest / wood / landscape). Shinto places links between landscapes and feminine forms. They are, modesty, discretion, femininity, feminine ideal. A double category appears around 1950: traditional kokeshi (dento) and creative kokeshi (sosaku), free of forms and décor. Symbol of lost childhood, they now evolve with the worlds manga and kawaii, there are a hundred variants.

Ref. : 7F4PPAPT